This is the first phone to run the new version of Google’s Android operating system known as Ice Cream Sandwich. Samsung’s Galaxy Nexus will use Verizon’s network and is expected to be in stores any day now; it went on sale in the UK yesterday. But, strangely, neither Samsung nor Google has set a firm date for the U.S. release or said how much it will cost — and the model sent to gadget reviewers ran on T-Mobile’s network. Still, most are gushing over the device. Among its more striking features: It uses facial recognition technology so you can unlock the phone by putting its camera in front of your face. Also, it’s said to be able to take pictures instantly without the common and annoying cell phone shutter lag. The Galaxy Nexus has a 4.65-inch Super AMOLED screen and a 1.2 GHZ dual core processor.

Our colleagues over at BGR say that “it is the best Android handset we’ve seen far as hardware and software go…The phone finally feels like it has a personality, even if it’s that of a robot from a TRON-like world.” Engadget says that it’s “an impressive flagship phone and Android 4.0 is a significant step forward for Google.” USA Today’s Ed Baig says that “many new features are indeed a welcome treat” — but adds that he needs more time to give it a full review: He notes that the facial recognition feature sometimes didn’t work in dim light (you can use a password as well) and the battery life “doesn’t seem great.” CNET gave the phone four stars, saying that it is “a big step forward for Android, but it’s not the giant leap you may have been expecting.”

9 Comments

All my friends are deserting the iPhone for Android handsets. If the iPhone 5 disappoints, Android will take over the smartphone market.

lukeandlaura • on Nov 18, 2011 9:01 am

Totally.

Oh wait, this will not happen.

Jen • on Nov 18, 2011 9:01 am

All my friends are deserting the Android and BB for the iPhone. Android will fail due to the increased malware infections which do not exist on the iPhone. BB is dead RIP – had a good run.

suicide • on Nov 18, 2011 9:01 am

doesn’t this kind of thing belong to the right of the actual news items…with the other advertisements?

Michelle • on Nov 18, 2011 9:01 am

I have a brand spankin new Samsung Google Nexus. It does not sync my e-mail and if I don’t manually refresh it I never EVER receive notification of new e-mail. I have a Gmail account…wtf?!

No One of Consequence • on Nov 18, 2011 9:01 am

No Android phone will properly challenge the iPhone until there is some kind of common standard for the phones. Apple has made it very easy for the consumer to understand, “Buy this phone, get the OS that does these cool things”. With the Android phones, no one seems to know which handsets are capable of running which Android OS. I am sure Ice Cream Sandwich is amazing, and maybe even trumps iOS 5, but eventually, Apple will come out with iOS 6, which will likely trump Ice Cream Sandwich. It is pretty reasonable to assume iOS 6 will run on the iPhone 4, 4S and whatever new iPhone 5 they release, but will a new Ice Cream Sandwich work on the Galaxy?

joe • on Nov 18, 2011 9:01 am

yes, we know. Its an ipod killer, an iphone killer and an ipad killer & even an iTV killer too. Maybe in 50 years. Old news, old story, same old people bitter of Apples success

Lincoln • on Nov 18, 2011 9:01 am

I have an iMac, iPad, and a Macbook Air. But my phone is Android. I switched from my iPhone in May and it’s absolutely better in every regard but one: audio. The iPhone is better at handling audio because it has one app for audio books/music/podcasts. On Android, there isn’t one program that does all three of those perfectly. But that’s the only exception.

Michelle, what email program are you using? I’ve never heard of that issue. I’ve used the built-in email program, built-in Gmail program, and currently use K-9 for email. It has preferences for email checking frequency and how you want notifications; it’s completely customizable (as were the stock programs).